All plants /Ground /Common Sunflower
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus, aster family. Abundant in East and Central and West Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Seeds; unopened flower buds
- How
- Seeds roasted; buds steamed like artichoke
- When
- Late summer for seeds
- Where
- Roadsides, fields, disturbed ground everywhere
- Value
- Fat, protein
Caution: Straightforward and safe; harvest from ground away from sprayed roadsides. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Harvesting
Wild sunflowers are smaller than the crop but the seeds are the same food. Cut heads as the backs yellow and the seeds firm up; dry them before shelling.
In the kitchen
Roast the shelled seeds for snacking, or steam the unopened green buds and eat the base like a tiny artichoke.
Photo: Evelyn Simak, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.